Motor-controlling device.



T. E. BARNUM.

MOTOR CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 9, 1907.

959,908. PatentedMay3L1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

ATTORIIQEY ANDREW a. GRAHAM can PHOIO-LITHDGRAPNERS wnsru Patented May 31, 1910.

4 sums-sum 2.

T. E. BARNUM. MOTOR CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1907.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

T. E. BARNUM.

MOTOR GQNTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 9. 1907.

959,908. Patented May 31, 1910.

4 SHEETS-831E111 3.

WlTNESSl-Ziw OmvgaTOR flzd A fl w A. #5 MW if ATTORNEY?) ANDREW B GRAHAM 00.. PnoTauwoaRAPnERS.

.T. E. BARNUM.

MOTOR CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED mm, 1907.

959,908; Patented May 31, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES;

ANDREW a SRAHAM c0 PHOTO unwcwwzna wAsmNGwN n v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. BARNUM, OF MILWAUKEE, VIISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 TIE-IE CUTLER- I-IAMMER MFG. GO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MOTOR-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BARNUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in motor controllers and is preferably applicable to controllers which perform the function of both a rheostat and reversing switch.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a controller of the character stated which shall produce better results with less wear and destruction to the parts than those heretofore devised.

My invention also contemplates certain electrical and mechanical relations between the parts, which reduce the number of points at which the circuit is broken, and at the same time prevent destructive arcs at the points where the circuit is opened.

For the purpose of disclosing my inven tion I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the same. It will be understood, however, that other controllers embodying the same invention may be devised which, while departing from details of construction, do not depart from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of the controller. Fig. 2 is a rear View thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4: is a diagram of the electrical connections and relations of the parts of my controller.

The controller is preferably provided with a supporting frame which preferably consists of an integral structure made of magnetic material, and comprising three radial arms, two of which 1 extend substantially horizontal and the third 2 extends substantially vertical, a base 1 having two feet 5 and a bearing sleeve 6. The arms extend radially from a common center and are all arranged in the same plane. The sleeve 6 is formed at the juncture of the arms and its axis extends transversely to the plane of the arms. The frame supports a face plate or base 7 formed of insulating or other suitable material, such as slate, soapstone or the like,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 9, 1907.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Serial No. 372,747.

which is preferably attached to the frame at the bottom by means of bolts 8, which extend through the base plate and the base, and at the top by a bolt 9 which extends through the base plate and the arm 2.

A shaft or spindle 10 extends through the bearing in the sleeve 6 and at its rear end is provided with a wheel 11 fastened thereto by a suitable means and bearing against the back of the frame to prevent axial displacement of the shaft. The wheel has formed thereon a segmental gear 12 and a cam 13. The ends of the gear 12 form stop lugs 14:, one arranged at each end of the cam, which limit the are through which the shaft may be turned to an arc corresponding to the dis tance between the lugs 14. The surface of the cam 18 is provided with a notch 15, which is located, midway between the lugs let.

The arm 2 is provided with a projection 16 which is arranged in the path of the movement of the lugs 14 so that the lugs may strike against the same and limit movement of the shaft and when the shaft stands in its initial position, each lug is equidistant from said projection. Extending vertically through the projection 16 is a circular hole in which is arranged a slidable cylindrical block 17 having an upwardly extending tail rod 18. In the upper portion of the hole a ledge is formed and below the ledge the hole is of just sufficient diameter to admit the tail rod. A hearing is thus provided for the tail rod. The upper end of the tail rod is provided with a vertical slot through which passes a pin 19, to prevent the rod from turning. The cylindrical block 17 is pressed downward by a coiled spring 20 arranged between the bottom of the block and the ledge and surrounding the tail rod and the block carries a roller 21, which engages the edge of the cam 13.

hen the parts of the controller are in the initial or off position the roller 21 is pressed into the notch 15 of the cam and thus holds the parts against accidental movement. A handle or lever 22 at its lower end is pivotally mounted upon a stud or shaft 23 extending rearwardly from the base 4, and is provided with a rack 24: secured to an arc shaped projection 25 integrally formed with the arm, by bolts 26. The rack 21 is adapted to mesh with the segmental gear 12 and as the handle is moved and to the right or left, rotates the gear thereby l operating the spindle 10. T he outer end of the shaft or spindle carries a hub 27 from which e: ends two arms 28. The arms are fastened to the hub by means of suitable bolts 29 and insulating material 30 is placed between the arms, the hub and the bolts so as to electrically insulate one arm from the other. The outer end of each contact arm preferably *arries pivoted fingers or cont acts 31 made of copper orv other suitable material adapted to engage certain stationary contacts that will be hereinafter de scribed and these fingers are preferably pressed into engagement with the stationary contacts by a spring ln addition to the fingers or contacts 31 carried by each arm, each arm carries a second contact which adapted to engage other stationary contacts carried ly the base f, as will hereinafter be described. ()f course the contacts on each arm may be electrically connected in any suitable way and may even be formed as a single contact.

l. he face pl ate carries four A contacts 34-, 55, 36, and 37 a ranged concentrically wit the axis of the l aft 10. These contacts are pref oly what is known in the art as face pla e or radial contacts, and the four groups of contacts are arranged, one group in each of four arcs of equal length and radius, the several arcs being equidistant apart and having a common center. Each contact is preferably held in position by roups or sets of means of screws, tl heads of which are counter-sunk in the face of the contact. The screws pass through the face plate and are threaded into plates 38, upon the back thereof, which also preferably carry binding 1 screws 2-39 by means of which electrical con- 1 nection is made to the conductors and resist ance as hereinafter set forth. In two of toe the groups of contacts is pre 'erably arranged an insulating block 40 upon which ests the brushes or fingers 31 of the controller arms when they are in the initial or off position.

A blowout col 4-. is provided. which pref erably consists of a strip or band of conducting r ater' .l wound in the form of a spiral and having suitable insulation wound therewith to insulate the conyolutions from each other. This coil is preferably wound upon a tube or spool 4-2 made of brass or other i nonuias and having a terminal gnetic m: terial cxtcunnon 4 by which it is secured to the face plate by bolts -i-l-. The extension 4L3 is preferably insulated from the blowout coil by a block of insulating material interposed between. the coil and the extension and the spool 42 is insulated from the sleeve 6 I by an insulating tube The inner end of the coil 's attached to the spool and the on er end thereof is connected to a contact plate, which will be more fully described.

The contact arms 28 and the arms 1 of the frame form pole pieces for the blowout magnet. The two contact arms and the two arms of the frame form two pairs of poles, one pair at each point where arcs form on the opening of the circuit. The end contacts of each group of contacts where the circuit is broken is preferably larger than the intermediate contacts, as the circuit is opened and closed at that point, and the plate M to which the end contact is fastened is preferably made of magnetic material. The outer end of each arm of the arms 1 is preferably divided into two polar faces, one arranged ack of each magnetic plate, and an insulating plate 1 8 is placed over the polar faces to shield the same from the adjacent plates 41-7.

When the contact arms are returned to the initial position an arc tends to form between each contact arm and the adjacent end contact of the set of stationary contacts over which said arm has been moved. This are is extinguished by the magnetic flux that passes between the pole pieces formed by the contact arm and the corresponding arm of the frame. The circuit or path of the magnetic flux which is created by the blowout coil extends from the sleeve 6, tln'ough the radial arm 1 of the supporting frame, thence across the are zone of one of the contact s 28, and back through said arm and shaft 10 to the sleeve (3.

In addition to the sets of stationary contacts above described, within the circle described by the same, a pair of arc shaped contacts 49 and 50 are secured to the face plate by suitable bolts 51 and each plate is greater in length than the are formed by two sets stationary contacts, for instance, the length of the are shaped contact is greater than the are formed by the sets 34 and 3. of contacts, and the are shaped contact 50 is greater in length than the are former by the sets 35 and 36 of contacts. The point of separation of the are shaped contacts 1-9 and 50 is opposite the oil position. of the arms 28, whereby the contacts 33 carried by the arms 28 are always in engagennnt with the contact plates 1:9 and 50. lly this arrangement when the circuit through the motor is opened or the direclieu thereof through the motor changed, the number of points at which. the circuit is broken is reduced to two, but due to the provision of the blowout magnet the arc is pi'oiiiptly disrupted at these two points.

in the structure shown in the drawing, as tore stated. the circuit is broken at two i-oints when the contact arms are returned '4) the initial position. The contact arms the arms of the frame form pairs of for to blowout coil at each of these -"s and in consequence a magnetic flux is sent across each arc zone, thereby causing the arc to be extinguished. Inasmuch as each contact arm forms a pole piece for the blowout magnet, the magnetic flux is distributed at the points where it will be most effective in extinguishing the arcs that occur upon the opening of the circuit.

The circuit relations of the parts of the controller are illustrated in Fig. 5 and referring to said figure I have illustrated the controller as being used for controlling a motor having armature 52 and a series field 53. It will be, of course, understood that my device may be used to control other forms of motors than that herein shown and de scribed.

In order to distinguish certain parts of the controller from one another in describing the Various circuits, I shall hereinafter use letters as exponents of the reference numerals which I have heretofore used. I11 each group of contacts each contact of the group on one side of the horizontal center of the controller is electrically connected to the corresponding contact of its opposite group. For example in the group of contacts 34, each of the contacts is connected with a corresponding contact in the group 35. The contacts of the groups 3st and 35 are thus electrically connected in pairs. Each group of contacts is connected to resistances 54: and 55 which are divided into sections or steps, the number of steps being equal to the number of pairs or" contacts. The inner terminal of the blowout magnet 41 is connected through conductor 56 with the contact segment 49 and the outer terminal of the blow out magnet is connected by conductor 57 with one terminal of the armature 52. The opposite terminal of the armature 52 is connected by conductor 58, with the contact segment 50. The last of the set 35 of contacts is connected by conductor 59, with one terminal of the series winding 53, the opposite terminal of which is connected by a conductor 59 with one side 60 of the main line, and the last of the set of contacts 36 is connected by conductor 61 with the opposite side 62 of the main line.

In operation if the contact arms be moved clockwise the arm 28 will pass over the set of contacts 34 and the arm 28 will pass over the set of contacts 36. WVhen each contact arm comes into engagement with the first of the stationary contacts in the course of its travel, circuit will be closed from the main 60, by conductor 59, through the series field winding 53, by conductor 59, to the first of the contacts 35, thence through all of the resistance 54: connected therewith, to the last of the series at of contacts, thence across the arm 28 to the contact segment 49, by the way of conductor 56, through the blowout coil 41, by conductor 57, through the armature 52, by conductor 58, to the opposite segment 50, across the contact arm 28*, to the first of the series of contacts 36, thence through all of the resistance 55, connected therewith, to the last of this series of contacts, and by conductor 61, to the opposite side 62 of the line, establishing the motor circuit. As the arms pass over the successive contacts, the resistance will be removed, step by step, and when the arms reach the last of the contacts, all of the resistance will have been removed from circuit and the motor will be running at full speed.

If the arms be moved in a counter clockwise direction from their off position, the arm 2& will pass over the series of contacts 35, and the arm 28 will pass over the contacts 37. When the arm 28 engages the first of the series of contacts and the arm 28 engages the first of the series 37 of contacts, circuit will be closed from the main 60, by conductor 59 through the series field 53, thence by conductor 59, to the last of the series of contacts, through all of the resistance 54 connected therewith to the firstof the series 35 of contacts, across the arm 28 to the contact 50, and thence by conductor 58, through the armature 52 of the motor, by conductor 57, through the blowout coil ll, by conductor 56, to the contact segment 49. From the contact segment $9, the circuit will be closed across the arm 28, to the first of the series 37 of contacts, through all the resistance 55, connected therewith, to the last of the series of contacts, and thence by conductor 61 to the opposite side 62 of the line. As the arms pass over the contacts 35 and 37, the resistance will be removed from circuit, step by step, and when the arms reach the last of these contacts all of the resistance will be removed from circuit and the motor will be running at full speed in the reverse direction.

Inasmuch as the arms 28 and 28 never pass ofl the contact segments 49 and 50, the

circuit is only broken at two places when the arms are moved to their off position, but due to the provision of the blowout magnet, the are formed at this point is immediately disrupted.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with are shaped contacts, of a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts, a resistance connected to each set 01 circumferentially arranged contacts, and movable contacts connected in pairs arranged to pass ofi' said contacts, one movable contact of each pair being arranged to always be in engagement with the are shaped contacts.

2. The combination with a pair of continuous contacts, of a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts, a resistance connected to each set of circumferentially arranged contacts, and a plurality of movable contacts arranged to pass over said contacts, the contacts passing over the continuous contacts, being arranged to be continuously in engagement therewith.

3. In a motor controller the combination with a plurality of sets of contacts circumferentially arranged, two of said sets having resistance sections connected thereto and being electrically connected to the terminals of the line, of a pair of continuous contacts connected to the terminals of the motor, and

.movable contacts arranged to pass over said contacts, the movable contacts engaging said continuous contacts being arranged to always remain in engagement therewith.

4. In a motor controller the combination with four sets of contacts circumferentially arranged, the sets of contacts being divided into pairs, and the contacts of each pair being electrically connected, of a resistance connected to each set, one set of each pair being electrically connected to the terminals of the line, a pair of continuous contacts electrically connected to the motor terminals, and four movable contacts electrically connected in pairs arranged to pass over said contacts, the movable contacts passing over the continuous contacts being arranged to continuously engage the same.

5. The combination with a plurality of circumferentially arranged sets of contacts, of a resistance connected to each set, a plurality of continuous contacts, a plurality of movable contacts arranged to pass over said contacts but adapted to open the circuit only on the contacts of the circumferentially arranged sets, and a blowout coil arranged to disrupt the are formed at the contacts when the circuit is opened.

6. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of circumt'erentially arranged sets of contacts, of a plurality of continuous contacts, rotatable contact members arranged to engage said cont-acts, the circuit being arranged to be broken only at the contacts of the sets, and a blowout coil arranged substantially concentric with the axis of said movable members.

7. The combination with are shaped contacts, of a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts, a resistance connected to each set of contacts, movable contacts arranged to pass over said contacts, the movable contacts engaging the are shaped contacts being continuously in engagement therewith, and a blowout coil.

8. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts, two of said sets being electrically connected to the line terminals, of a resistance connected to each of said sets, a pair of contacts connected to the motor terminals, movable contacts arranged to pass over said contacts, the movable contacts for said motor terminal contacts being in continuous engagement therewith, and a blowout coil.

9. The combination with a plurality of circumierentially arranged contacts divided into electrically independent sets, a pivoted contact member adapted to sweep over said contacts and to be moved out of engagement therewith, and plurality of continuous contacts arranged to be always engaged by said contact member.

10. In a motor controller, in combination, a plurality of circumferentially arranged resistance contacts divided into groups, a plurality of are shaped contacts, and a pivoted contact member movable over said contacts to establish connections for operating the motor in either direction, said member being in continuous engagement with said are shaped contacts and adapted to open the motor circuit upon being disengaged from said circumferentially arranged contacts.

It witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. BARUUM. lVitnesses WALTER E. SARGENT, Oscan A. KELLER. 

